Pioneer graduates named to northern Alberta all-star team

Dozens of graduating Grade 12 football players from across northern Alberta, including Peace River’s Curt Craddock and Kruise Hofferd, attended a training camp on April 12-14 in Edmonton, in hopes of cracking the 40-man roster for the Football Alberta “North” All-Star Senior Bowl team.

Not only did the two Peace River Pioneers graduates go up against faster and stronger players from larger populated towns and cities, but their hard work, intensity and determination – a sure sign of what three years in the Pioneers football program instilled upon them –impressed the coaching staff and were named to the all-star roster.

On May 20, the north all-star team will be facing off against the south all-star team (consisting of players from the Calgary area) in the 24th annual Football Alberta Senior Bowl High School Football All-Star Game at McMahon Stadium in Calgary.

“I’m very excited. I can’t wait to play and I think it’ll be a good experience. I think north and south will be a very good game. I know Kruise and I will be able to represent Peace River quite well,” Craddock, who will play runningback, told the Record-Gazette by phone.

“Everybody who was there just really wants to play football and deserves to make that team, but of course, not 200 players could be on one team,” he added.

For Hofferd, playing in his last football high school game, this time against the province’s best, will be icing an icing on the cake – literally.

“The actual game, I can’t wait for it. It actually works out that it’s the day after my birthday, so it’s probably going to be the best weekend of my life,” Hofferd, who will play on the Offensive Line, told the Record-Gazette by phone.

To be able to attend tryouts, players had to be nominated by their high school coach and had to be a graduating Grade 12 student.

Chris Friskie, head coach for the Pioneers, nominated both Craddock and Hofferd.

Craddock says with so many players vying to crack the roster, instantly impressing coaches was key.

“There were a lot of drills to see how we could react in game situations; there were situations where we couldn’t always hold on to the ball at the running back’s point of view. So we had to learn to see how we could do in blocking and catching the ball. They’re looking for football players that are very coachable and that understand the game,” he said.

Hofferd added that attending tryouts was a testament to his passion for football.

“Either way the turnout of the tryout I would have been pleased just to end my high school career knowing I was good enough to go to that level at the all-star game. Just going to tryouts was warming enough but making the team is a heck of a more of an accomplishment.”

Peace River Prospectors quarterback and captain Kelton Bailey was also named to the north squad for the Bantam Bowl, otherwise known as the Alberta Minor Football All-Star Game, which is for graduating Grade 9 players.